WhatsApp messaging app from Meta Platforms got a lot of new features in 2026. These include stricter safety settings, a new chat user interface, and a number of features that use artificial intelligence (AI).
In South Africa WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app. Even though the number of users is small compared to markets like India, it is the main way for people in the area to send instant messages daily.
Data based messaging is very popular because it’s easy to use, costs less per text, and has more advanced features than SMS.
Local networks in South Africa have made the platform even more popular by offering specific low cost data bundles that only work with WhatsApp messaging services.
According to DataReportal research data, WhatsApp had become the main messaging app in South Africa by 2025, when about 94% of the country’s Internet users were using it.
This is in line with Yazi research findings, which showed that about 93.9% of South African Internet users were using WhatsApp in late 2025 period.
Yazi study also found that 28–29 million people in South Africa were using WhatsApp at the end of 2025.
It said that about 74.5% of people in South Africa had access to the Internet and that about 45% to 50% of people used WhatsApp.
Yazi said, “South Africa has one of the highest WhatsApp penetration rates in Africa, which makes it a main way for people and businesses to talk to each other.”
Meta Platforms teams are always adding new features and fixing common problems with WhatsApp.
WABetaInfo trusted source for news about new WhatsApp features and changes. It has a lot of information about new features in the app and features that are still being worked on.
WABetaInfo says that in early 2026, WhatsApp added a number of new features and made life easier for users.
There are also a number of new features in the works that beta testers and regular WhatsApp users haven’t been able to use yet.
Changes to the user interface and quality of life
The new message bubbles in WhatsApp. Thanks to WABetaInfo feature reports
WhatsApp is changing the way chat message bubbles look to make them look more modern and visually updated.
“Message bubbles look like they are fully rounded with a corner radius that is much larger than it was before. WABetaInfo said that images and videos are no longer surrounded by a traditional bubble frame.
Instead, images and videos now look like bubbles all by themselves. WABetaInfo says that these changes make conversations feel more modern and look better.
The platform is also releasing a new interface that lets users find messages by using filters that are arranged horizontally instead of vertically.
This gives the layout a more modern look, and the search interface will also show recent searches to help users find chats and groups they’ve searched for recently.
Soon, people who use the Meta owned platform will be able to get status updates from phone numbers that aren’t saved. This feature is already available to Android and iOS users.
WABetaInfo said, “If you have recently messaged or called someone, they can now add you to their personal audience even if you haven’t saved them in your address book yet.”
Someone who hasn’t saved your number can still see your updates if you have saved their number and talked to them recently on WhatsApp.
It went on to say, “WhatsApp will automatically stop sharing status updates with phone numbers that aren’t saved if the most recent interactions are no longer recent.”
When iOS users look for an emoji to send in a conversation, they also get suggestions for new stickers.
WhatsApp now shows a small preview of the first matching sticker after you type the name of an emoji in the chat bar.
If you tap on this preview, you’ll see a small number of third-party stickers. To see even more, tap see more results.
WhatsApp is also going to add more pinned conversations to the Chats tab, which is another new quality of life feature. Right now, people can pin three chats to the top of the list.
The feature will let people pin up to 20 chats to the top of the list. When it comes out, though, only people who pay for the new WhatsApp Plus subscription plan will be able to use it.
A new subscription is coming for people who use Android and iOS
WhatsApp Plus subscribers will be able to choose from new ringtones options. Thanks to WABetaInfo feature report
WhatsApp Plus the next subscription service is still being worked on and promises a lot of customization options among other things.
WhatsApp plans to add ringtones and new ways to customize the app, in addition to letting users pin up to 20 chats to the top of their list. This will make it easier for users to keep their most important conversations at the top of their list.
With the new subscription, users will be able to choose from a much larger list of ringtones for calls. These ringtones will be in a separate part of the ringtone interface under WhatsApp’s notification settings section.
Right now, the new subscription is supposed to come with 10 new ringtones, but this could change before the release date arrives.
WhatsApp will also offer a separate set of new ringtones to add to the default collection though.
Users can now preview ringtones right in WhatsApp without having to open the ringtone browser separately.
WABetaInfo said, “Playing the preview right in WhatsApp will make it easier and faster to compare options before choosing one ringtone.”
Subscribers will be able to choose from 14 different app icons and change WhatsApp’s accent colors from a list of 19 options available.
These subscribers will also be able to use special stickers and have more fun with message reactions and conversation effects.
